Activities

Physical Activity Kit (PAK). Indian Health Services (2008)
The PAK is based on best and promising practices to increase physical activity. This PAK module contains a variety of physical activities that can be done by a family. The entire PAK toolkit (link below) can be used in schools, communities, worksites, Head Start programs, elderly centers, and youth programs. The goal of the PAK is to increase the time American Indians and Alaskan Natives spend in medium to high physical activity for all ages across the lifespan. While the activities have been field tested to be culturally appropriate for Native communities, others might also find PAK useful in their community. Read More

eHow
Ideas to help students with day school and OST science projects. The website also includes great resources to support at-home science activities. Read More

PBS Kids activities.
The PBS Kids site has many on-line and downloadable activities for use in OST programs. Here are some examples:

The Greens. PBS Kids (2016)
Activity Guide: This guide, designed for afterschool programs, offers six activities for kids, ages 9 to 12. “Investigate!” activities deepen kids’ understanding of topics like recycling and global warming. “Take Action!” activities encourage kids to launch environmental campaigns, like reducing junk mail and getting drivers to stop idling their cars. Each “Investigate!” activity is paired with a “Take Action!” activity: kids learn about a problem in one session; in the next, they engage in a hands-on activity that can help solve it. They’ll have fun AND come away with a hopeful and positive sense that their efforts to go green really can make a difference. On-line games and downloadables at: Read More

Design Squad. PBS Kids (2016)
Design Squad is a PBS KIDS television series where real kids get to compete in all sorts of crazy engineering challenges. Watch videos of students competing to solve problems like how to build the fastest sail boat, then check out the “Make Cool Projects” to work on engineering projects yourself. Read More

Curious George. PBS Parents (2016)
Just like George, children are curious about the world and how things work. Do these simple activities and have fun making discoveries together. Find parent-child activities, a family activity book and more at: Read More

Sandia Family Science Night. Sandia National Labs.
Sandia Family Science Night provides an evening of hands-on science activities held at local elementary schools in the Albuquerque, NM and Livermore, CA communities. Students and parents work together to conduct simple inquiry-based science activities. All materials and instructions (English and Spanish) are provided. For schools outside of our communities, we offer the following resources to help you host your own Family Science Night. Read More

Family Literacy Night. SEDL
Family Literacy Events are special scheduled times when parents and caregivers are invited to visit and participate in activities at their child's afterschool program. Events may include workshops on homework or parenting issues, student presentations, musical activities or plays, or exhibits of student work. Family literacy events may be led by afterschool staff, local experts, or community organizations. Read More

Choices Game. United Way of Greater New Haven
How will you invest your resources? This activity is a great way to explain the tough choices low-income families are forced to make every day. Read More

Choices Resources (National Assoc. for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth)
Mobility Shuffle Download document

Research

Engage families for anywhere, anytime learning. Weiss and Lopez (2015).
As we reimagine learning to keep pace with more exacting demands for education and citizenship, we must look to how we engage families, schools, and community organizations, especially those in lower-income situations. Harvard Family Research Project. Read More

What's Happening

Our Sponsors

About NMOST Network

The New Mexico Out-of-School Time Network (NMOST) brings together policymakers, educators, childcare providers, youth development workers, and other stakeholders interested in ensuring positive youth development opportunities and outcomes through out-of-school time programs.